Abrar Ali Saiyed is a Senior Lecturer (Associate Professor) in International Business and Entrepreneurship at the University of Glasgow Adam Smith Business School. His work focuses on entrepreneurship, strategy, and international business, with a particular interest in how these areas intersect with community development and inclusive economic practices.

Before joining the University of Glasgow, Abrar held academic roles at Ozyegin University in Turkey and Ahmedabad University in India. He earned his Fellowship in Management (FPM) from the Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad (IIMA). He has also taught across several campuses of the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs), including Ahmedabad, Calcutta, Indore, Shillong, Kashipur, Sambalpur, Jammu, and Trichy. His courses, such as “Sociology of Bazaar” and “Entrepreneurship Through Practice,” have been recognised for their practical orientation and relevance to emerging economies. During his time at Ahmedabad University, he received the Chairman’s Teaching Excellence Award (2018–2019) in recognition of his student-centered and impactful approach to teaching.

Abrar’s research looks at entrepreneurial behavior in traditional business communities, challenges faced by marginalised entrepreneurs, and innovation and internationalisation within SMEs and family businesses. He has contributed to journals including Human Relations, International Business Review, Journal of Business Research, and Asia Pacific Journal of Management. One of his recent papers received the Best Paper Award from International Business Review (2023–2024), and he has been nominated for the Highly Innovative Teaching Award (2024–2025) at the University of Glasgow.

His research is often rooted in community engagement and has led to applied projects supported by organisations such as EIT Higher Education Initiative (HEI), Azim Premji University, Department for International Development (DFID) UK, Gujarati Muslim Association of America (GMAA) and Ramapo College of New Jersey. He also authored a field-based report on Muslim Entrepreneurs in India, highlighting structural and community-based factors influencing enterprise development.

In addition to academic research, Abrar has worked extensively with small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), family businesses, Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), and startups, helping them address strategic, innovation, and scaling challenges. He has conducted training programs for craft artisansin Gujarat and collaborated with scientists and researech and development managers from public research institutions.

Abrar is involved in several community and youth leadership initiatives. He contributes as an affiliated expert with the LedBy Foundation, supporting the leadership journeys of Indian Muslim women. He also collaborates with organisations like the Centre for Technology, Innovation, and Economic Research and serves on CII Gujarat’s micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSME) panels. His earlier involvement with entrepreneurship-focused programs backed by the US Consulate General India includes mentoring women entrepreneurs and supporting teacher training in madrassas.

In 2021, Abrar helped lead a European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) initiative in Turkey, which aimed to build entrepreneurial capacity among international students. The project trained 150 students and supported the launch of eight startups.

His broader public and community engagement was also recognised by the US Government, which selected him for the International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) for his work on improving access and quality in minority schools in Gujarat.

Areas of expertise:

• Entrepreneurship in Marginalized Communities (Ethnic and Religious Minorities, and Women)
• Grassroots Innovation/ Social Innovation
• Innovation/ Internationalization in SMEs in Emerging Economies
• International Entrepreneurship/International New Ventures
• Entrepreneurship in Challenging socio-political contexts
• Religion and Entrepreneurship

List by: Type | Date

Prior publications

1. Displacement and transience as identity: An ethnographic study of Muslim communities in exile in Gujarat, India (2013-2014):
   Abrar Ali Saiyed, Ruma Sen (Ramapo College of NJ, USA) (Funded by Ramapo College)
2. Enabling innovation and productivity growth in low-income countries to grant awarded by the department of international development (DFDI) and organized by Tilburg University (December 2016-June 2017): Jaap Voeten (Tilburg University, Netherlands) and Abrar Ali Saiyed (only for India Data)
3. Politics, Religion, and Entrepreneurship: Changing political contexts in India and its Impact on Muslim Entrepreneurs Funded by Azim Premji Foundation/ Azim Premji University (2020-2021): Abrar Ali Saiyed
4. Identity and Entrepreneurship: Muslim Entrepreneurs in Leather and Meat Industries in India Funded by GMAA, Chicago (2022-2023): Abrar Ali Saiyed
5. HEight: Developing Innovation and Entrepreneurship in Higher Education Institutions Funded by EIT HEI

Abrar led the HEI Initiative in Turkey as part of a five-partner consortium that received a €1.2 million grant from the European Institute of Innovation and Technology. The project built an entrepreneurial ecosystem for international students in Turkey, training 150 students and supporting eight student-led startups.

• Prasasti, Arum
  Social Media Marketing For Innovation and Competitiveness in a Women-Led SMEs in Rural Indonesia
• Usmayanti, Vivi
  Social and Cultural Barriers to Women's Participation in Digital Entrepreneurship

PhD thesis topic:

• Relationship between the Role of Business Angels and Stages of Startups: A Resource Dependency Theory Perspective (2018-2023) (Ahmedabad University)

• MGT5180 - International Entrepreneurship & Innovation (PG-Core course, S1) 
• MGT5179-Global Business Environment (PG-Core course, S1) 
• MGT5056 - Multinational Management (PG-Core course, S2) 
• MGT5406 - International Business and Entrepreneurship in Emerging Economies (PG-Elective, S2) 

Paper published

• Saiyed, A. A., Shaikh, A., & Gupta, S. (2023). Entrepreneurial marketing strategy in craft-based businesses in an emerging market: a qualitative interpretivist approach. Journal of Research in Marketing and Entrepreneurship. (ABDC B)
• Saiyed, A. A., Wierenga, M., Fernhaber, S. A., & Nummela, N. (2023). From grassroots to international markets: A qualitative study of marginalized entrepreneurs in India. International Business Review, 32(5), 102163. (ABDC A and ABS 3*)
• Saiyed, A. A., Tatoglu, E., Ali, S., & Dutta, D. K. (2023). Entrepreneurial orientation, CEO power and firm performance: an upper echelons theory perspective. Management Decision, 61(6), 1773-1797. (ABDC B and ABS 2)
• Saiyed, A.A, Eryarsoy, E., Mondal, A., & Dhandapani, K. (2023). Business group affiliation and internationalization of new ventures: Moderating role of industry and liberalization. Journal of Business Research, 157, 113610. (ABDC A, ABS 3*)
• Banerjee, S., Zattoni, A., & Saiyed, A.A. (2022). Dominant-owner CEOs, board of directors and firm performance in emerging economies: Exploring the moderating impact of quad-qualified directors. Asia Pacific Journal of Management, 1-36. (ABDC A, ABS 3)
• Mostafiz, M. I., Musteen, M., Saiyed, A.A, & Ahsan, M. (2022). COVID-19 and the global value chain: Immediate dynamics and long-term restructuring in the garment industry. Journal of Business Research, 139, 1588-1603. (ABDC A and ABS 3*)
• Saiyed, A. A., & Ricard, A. (2021). Entrepreneurial characteristics and internationalisation of new ventures: a study of cognitive factors. Journal for Global Business Advancement, 14(2), 166-191.
• Saiyed, A. A., Fernhaber, S. A., Basant, R., & Dhandapani, K. (2021). The internationalization of new ventures in an emerging economy: The shifting role of industry concentration. Asia Pacific Journal of Management, 38(4), 1467-1497. (ABDC A and ABS 3)
• Ayob, A. H., & Saiyed, A. A. (2020). Islam, institutions, and entrepreneurship: evidence from Muslim populations across nations. International Journal of Islamic and Middle Eastern Finance and Management, 13(4), 635-653. (ABDC B and ABS 2)
• Saiyed, A. A. M. (2019). The role of leadership in business model innovation: a case of an entrepreneurial firm from India. New England Journal of Entrepreneurship, 22(2), 70-88. (ABDC C)
• Saiyed, A. A., Basalingappa, A., & Sinha, P. K. (2016). Value network in heritage walks: case studies of Ahmedabad city walks. Journal of Heritage Management, 1(2), 191-204.
• Ricard, A., & Saiyed, A. A. (2015). Attitude toward internationalization and early internationalization: Comparison of Indian and French SMEs' decision makers. M@ n@ gement, 18(1), 54-77. (ABCD B and ABS 2)

Report, book chapter and article published

• A qualitative study on Innovation in Manufacturing Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs) in India: Exploration of Policy and Research Issues. Tilburg: Tilburg University.: Jaap Voeten and Abrar Ali Saiyed
• Waqf and the economics and the politics of heritage management in Ahmedabad Cross Section edited by Jigna Desai and Iñigo Cornago (CEPT University Press)
• Condition of Muslim Entrepreneurs in India: In Changing Socio-Political Environment: Abrar Ali Saiyed (Funded by Azim Premji University)
• Innovation in Manufacturing Sector in India (CTIER Publication): Rakesh Basant, Pankaj Chandra, Janak Naber, Abrar Ali Saiyed, and Vaishnavi Dande
• Evaluation of Maharashtra Startup Week Program (CTIER Publication): Swati Joshi, Dipti Singhania, Abrar Ali Saiyed, Madhurjya Deka and Janak Nabar

Project 1: HEI Initiative: Innovation Capacity Building for Higher Education.

• Month and year: 2021-2023
• Location: Turkey
• Client: HEI EIT
• Positions held: Researcher/Consultant

Project 2: Evaluation of Maharashtra Startup Week Program (CTIER Publication)

• Month and year: 2020-2021
• Location: India
• Client: Center for Technology, Innovation, and Economic Research
• Positions held: Researcher/Consultant

Project 3: Innovation in Manufacturing Sector in India (CTIER Publication)

• Month and year: 2020-2021
• Location: India
• Client: Maharashtra State and Innovation Society, Center for Technology, Innovation, and Economic Research
• Positions held: Researcher/Consultant 

Project 4: A qualitative study on Innovation in Manufacturing Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs) in India: Exploration of Policy and Research Issues.

• Month and year: 2016-2017
• Location: Gujarat India
• Client: DFID UK and Tilburg University
• Positions held: Researcher
• Publications: Voeten, J., & Saiyed, A. A. (2017). India: Qualitative study on Innovation in Manufacturing Small and Medium Sized Enterprises (SMEs): Exploration of Policy and Research Issues. Studying Innovation in Manufacturing sector in MSMEs in Gujarat, India

Project 5: Report on 10% Sample Survey on MSMEs of Gujarat state

• Month and year: 2013-2014
• Location: Gujarat, India
• Clients: INTEXb
• Main project features:
• Positions held: Consultant